HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A CONTRACTOR IS LICENSED?
One of the first things a consumer should do is check with the State of Florida Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation and verify that the contractor you are considering is indeed licensed in Florida and in good standing.  Check our status by using this link, and performing a search using our full company name of Douglas Construction Management, Inc.

To verify insurance and proof of Workman’s Compensation coverage the contractor should be happy to provide you with a Certificate of Insurance that should come directly from the insurance agency, insuring its validity.  You can verify a contractors Workman’s Compensation coverage by using the Florida Department of Financial Services website.

WHERE DO I START?
The first step is to contact us and set and appointment for an initial consultation.  The meetings begin with a discussion regarding what you would like to achieve with your addition, remodel, or new construction project.  We look over the general areas involved, discuss the finer points of what you would like to see, and begin to develop some design ideas that are in harmony with your desires.  This initial meeting is very thorough and typically lasts between 1-2 hours. This insures that we have adequate time to listen to your ideas and begin suggesting some design ideas discussing the many possibilities that almost always unfold during this process.

DO I NEED AN ARCHITECT?
Of course if you are building a new home an architect and engineer are to be expected, but do I really need one if I just want to add an addition?  If you are considering an addition or remodeling project getting an architect involved is critical to insure that the new project blends seamlessly with your existing home.  The worst thing you can do is to hurriedly add on space and then have it look like it doesn’t belong.   Do you want to spend money on an addition that looks like just that; an afterthought? Doing so might actually be a future resale negative by decreasing what realtors describe as "your curb appeal".

After engaging our services, we schedule a meeting with our architectural trade partner and begin putting your ideas to paper.  We can also provide you with full color renderings and color 3-D animated drawings.  Our ability to share the same CAD software as the architect allows us to mark up changes on drawings electronically and email them back and forth to get updated prints in a matter of minutes instead of days.  This saves time during the design process and can save weeks during the building process if incorporating structural changes that have to be resubmitted to the Building Department for approval.

HOW LONG WILL MY PROJECT TAKE?
This is hard to answer with certainty, but generally speaking from initial meeting through completed drawings and permitting can take up to 3 months for a large home addition.  This process can literally take up to a year or more when designing an extensive custom home from scratch and beginning with sketches and general ideas of what you would like.  Again, a lot of effort is put into incorporating your ideas into the design, and also offering you many additional possibilities for you to consider as the design process evolves."

WILL I GET MY MONEY BACK IF I HAVE TO MOVE?

According to the latest information the answer is yes, you will get back nearly all of your investment dollars.  The 2006 Cost vs. Value Report, a joint publication from Remodeling Magazine and Realtor Magazine is showing increasing return on investments in home improvement projects.  According to the latest published report, a major kitchen remodel in the Tampa area exceeds 94% return on investment, bathroom remodels and additions bring a 90-94% return, and adding bedrooms or family rooms bring more than 82% back on resale.  We would be happy to provide you with a copy of the report during our initial meeting.